Start packing your swimsuits and sunglasses, and head to the Caribbean this winter! BA has launched several new flights to the Caribbean this season, bringing their total number of flights to the region up to 45 flights every week. The new flights will be between
London Gatwick and Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (both known for their sun-drenched beaches). These new routes mean that
British Airways currently
offer more flights to the Caribbean than any other UK carrier.
So if your summer tan is fast fading away and you’re languishing under layers of knitted jumpers, maybe it’s time to ask the boss nicely for a week or two off. After all, lounging about on the golden sands of a beach in St. Kitts, rum-based cocktail in hand, will surely help recharge your batteries in no time. Just tell your boss you’re trying to boost your productivity. If St Kitts or Montego Bay isn’t your scene, BA also offers flights to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and St. Lucia. Just open up a map of the Caribbean, close your eyes point, and BA will take you there.
And don’t forget to pack your sunscreen!
(Photo: travelmodule.csiadmin.co.uk)
Written by Travel News on November 5th, 2009 with no comments.
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The Ardèche Gorge, the largest natural canyon in Europe, angles through southern France, northwest of Avignon. Its craggy limestone cliffs rise as high as 1,000 feet. The Ardèche River begins in the massif central, cuts through the gorge and crosses the plateau to flow into the Rhone.
The best-known landmark of the gorge is Vallon Pont d’Arc, a huge natural bridge arching far above the river. A pleasant way to spend part of a day is to rent kayaks and paddle along the river to the awe-inspiring bridge, perhaps stopping at a beach along the way for a picnic. Shortly after passing under the bridge you can come ashore, where the kayak rental company will meet you with transportation back to your car. Being on the water allows for an intimacy with the place that tourists who only watch from high on the cliff never experience.
Millennia ago, prehistoric people may have floated the river too, in hand-carved boats. You can see remnants of their lives on the plateau above the river, where standing stones remain, the dolmens and menhirs that had deep meaning in ancient times. In caves dotting the cliffs, arrowheads and knives are often found and, in some, paintings from Paleolithic times.
Along the cliff road are signs to the grottes (caves) or avens (deep holes). The most famous by far is Grotte Chauvet, near the Pont d’Arc. Discovered in 1994, its walls have more than 300 designs painted and engraved some 30,000 years ago. There are rhinoceroses, lions, bears, owls, mammoths and more, all beautifully rendered and in amazing perspective. The Chauvet works are the oldest found in the world so far.
The cave is closed to the public, but there’s an excellent exhibit in the nearby village of Vallon Pont d’Arc, open from mid-March to mid-November. It shows cave painting replicas and much more. There are artifacts from archeological finds, a reconstruction of a prehistoric dwelling, and full-size animal reproductions. At the end, there’s a movie that shows more about Chauvet Cave.
Quite different is Grottes de St-Marcel d’Ardèche, which is open to visitors. Walking down the long main passageway, you come to an array of beautiful rimstone pools, perhaps a hundred of them. Continuing through this enchanting place, you arrive at the last chamber, full of stalactites, stalagmites and other mineral formations. Classical music and lighting add to the effect.
L’Aven Grotte de la Forestiére, discovered in 1966, is open April to September. The cave has several levels, formed at different time periods. Near the surface are roots from trees that grew into the cave for its water. On a lower level, hundreds of animal bones were found, some from animals now extinct. In one 
chamber, the animals and fish that once lived here adapted to the dark environment and were eyeless and colorless.
The Grotte de la Madeleine contains beautiful and irregular formations set off by special lighting. This cave, set into the side of the cliff, can be reached from the river or from the plateau above. There’s a gift shop, snack shop, and a viewpoint overlooking the gorge.
Aven de Marzal was investigated in 1892 but left and forgotten until 1949, and now is open for guided tours daily between April and October. It has numerous stalactites, stalagmites, cauldrons and multi-colored crystals. A museum shows the equipment used for early explorations. There’s also a “”zoo” with life-sized models of prehistoric animals.
Finally, there is the splendid Aven d’Orgnac, an enormous cavern filled with strange and eery shapes, all carved by nature over eons. A staircase and pathway descend into the cavern, where lights show off the formations (you return to the top by elevator). It is open year-round.
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Coastal paradise on the azure Aegean, or great crossroads of the ancient world? Or both? Modern day Izmir on Turkey’s west coast is one of the most popular destinations for northern European vacationers and is also the birthplace of Homer, one of the greatest poets and storytellers of all time. The city was founded by the almost mythical Trojans thousands of years ago and was fought over by ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great, Romans, Arabs and eventually the Ottoman Turks who wrested control of the city from the victors of WWI, who at the time helped to carve up Turkey the way they carved up the Middle East.
Unfortunately for history buffs, approximately 70% of the city burned during the battle between Mustafa Kemal Attaturk (Father of the Turks) and the Greek Occupation Force following WW I. Even so, there are still ruins and castles and bazaars and crumbling white neighborhoods facing the sea that can satisfy any admirer of old civilizations.
Probably one the most significant sights in Turkey is the Kadifekale Fortress, originally built by Alexander the Great’s generals per his instructions. The fortress stands guard over the city from a height of 250 feet and is an ideal 
place to watch the sunset over the Aegean. Ruins from Izmir’s Roman and Greek past can be seen in dramatic fashion at the Agora, where recent finds include the remains of a temple of Zeus built almost 2000 years ago. At Bayrakli, the ruins of the original site of Smyrna (ancient Izmir) are still open to the public. This site was moved by Alexander to the hilltop above the city for defensive purposes.
Izmir is a great place to shop (as are most middle eastern cities): there are bazaars and kervansarays (marketplaces where caravans stopped, and merchants slept and did business) throughout the city, selling all manner of carpets, trinkets, jewelry and pottery. The most famous bazaar in Izmir is the Kemeralti, which sprawls around the old Kizlargasi Hani kervansara. And after exploring the markets for a full day, consider a dip in one of Turkey’s most famous thermal spas at Balcova, either immediatly before or after sunset.
Most people go to Izmir for the white sand beaches of the Aegean. The beaches around Izmir are full during the high seasons of summer and winter. There are kebabs and shisha, tanned Swedish women and slick Turkish men and some of the most beautiful and peaceful bays you will find anywhere. The beach areas leading up into the city turn into thumping club districts and elegant sipping lounges at night. If you are young and looking for some action, you can find it and if you would rather relax and have a few cocktails that works fine too.
Turkish food is excellent and Izmir cuisine is particularly delicious. Here you can have fresh fruit all year long, fresh fish (fried, grilled or steamed) served in various kebab styles and local specialties like Izmir cheese and Izmir kebabs (Tulum Peyniri and Kumru respectively). A two week sojourn through the 
bazaars, along the beaches and through the cafes eating and drinking non-stop — this is what a standard vacation to Izmir can be. One of the best areas to experience the easy living of Izmir is the Alsancak district, a favorite for visitors looking for baklava, tea, shisha and other tasty dishes.
Izmir is a great third stop in any tour of Turkey — after jaw-dropping Istanbul and the ruins of Cappadocia, Izmir and its beaches, cafes and lazy walks around the bazaars is a welcome — no, perfect — next destination.
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We arrived at sunset. The Temple of Apollo, now just a remnant of the original, ancient edifice, clung to a rocky outcrop just north of the port. We walked out along the quay to see the stone pillars, backlit against the 
pomegranate-red sunset. Others stood in small groups viewing the ruins. The only sound was of the waves cutting against the rocks.
This peaceful introduction to Naxos set the tone for our visit. Naxos, Greece has only recently discovered tourism and it still retains a sleepy atmosphere in keeping with its agricultural roots. The largest island in the Cyclades chain, Naxos has a hilly, green interior that is ringed by sandy beaches and small towns. We based ourselves in Chora Naxos and settled in for a wonderful week of leisurely exploration.
Lining the waterfront promenade of this busy town, are several open-air restaurants. And despite their touristy appeal, quite a few offer delicious, fresh seafood at a reasonable cost. Alleys lead back from the waterfront into the winding streets of the town’s Venetian quarter, the Kastro. In a full week of exploring this area, we could never quite map-out the intricate maze of narrow pedestrian streets. And it was this feature that contributed to the charm of stumbling upon hidden shops and plazas. We often found breakfast by discovering a bakery as it opened, and paying a mere euro for a delicious, hot spankopita off the tray.
One morning, we wandered into an inviting café that was tucked away somewhere up a hill. Its dark wood interior framed charming windows that opened to a cobblestone alley below. It was a neighborhood place, lovingly tended by the owners who invited us back that night for ouzo, appetizers, and traditional Greek music. This type of small-town friendliness is common on Naxos, many of whose residents are still farmers or fishermen.
The towns people take great pride in the Naxos Castle and the adjacent Tower of Glezos. The castle, surounded by a pentagonal wall, long served as a fortification, and most recently was transformed into the Venetian Museum. Entrance to the museum, which sponsors classical music concerts in the summer months, is just inside the gates of the castle.
Chora’s main square is a bustling mix of tourist restaurants and bars. It’s the best place on the island to catch a soccer game, and is a lively mixture of visitors and locals. Chora Naxos also boasts some of the best Mexican food in Greece at the Picasso Mexican Bistro, an expat-owned restaurant that will satisfy any homesickness with a heaping plate of beans, sizzling peppers, and homemade tortillas.
To the south, the town gives way to Agios Georgios, a crowded but pretty stretch of beach, popular for swimming. We, however, preferred the narrow beaches of Plaka and Agia Anna, a few minutes further down the road, that were full of bars, snack shops, live music, and more youthful crowds.
Having heard about Naxos’ lovely interior, we planed to rent motorcycles and explore. Unfortunately, we were provided with a less glamorous option: a 4-Wheeler. These squat, hardy machines top out at around 40 mph. We rented a bright purple creature and took off into the mountains. Despite the indignity of sleek Ducatis passing our silly little 4-Wheeler, we learned that independent transport is really the best way to see Naxos. We wound through gray olive groves, quaint farms, and tiny villages comprised of a few white, sun-baked homes. We refueled in the mountain village of Filoti, a cluster of buildings perched above a wide agricultural valley, and were delighted by the sight of Mt. Zeus, the island’s highest point, which cast its shadow over the valley.
In the town of Halki, the Vallindras Distillery makes citron, a liquor distilled from the local fruit of the same name. We toured the distillery, which has been in operation since the late 19th century and still uses its original methods and equipment. At the end of our complimentary tour, the guide poured a taste of the sweet, citrusy, emerald-green liquor. The traditional processes used to make citron, its homegrown ingredients, and the distillery’s new focus on tourism, perfectly embodied the changing character of this quiet island.
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Hilton Hawaiian Village® Beach Resort & Spa’s new Waikiki Starlight LuauTM premiered February 23, 2009 on the resort’s Rooftop Garden.
I had the privilege of attending the luau earlier in October and found it improved in many ways over its predecessor, the Waikiki Luau on the Lagoon.
The food was much better and the entertainment from Tihati Productions was as good as always. Still, there were a few areas that still concerned me, but overall, it was a really fun evening in Waikiki.
Read my full review of Hilton Hawaiian Village® Beach Resort & Spa’s new Waikiki Starlight LuauTM.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa’s Waikiki Starlight Luau – A Review originally appeared on About.com Hawaii / South Pacific Travel on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 16:15:27.
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Halekulani, on the beach at Waikiki, is a calm, sophisticated oasis that retains all of its long-held iconic charm and distinctive qualities, yet has still been able to adapt well to the hi-tech and faster paced world that we live in today.
For many years Halekulani was little more than a name to me. For reasons I’m at a loss to explain, not only had I never stayed at the resort, but also I had never even ventured onto the property.
On my recent trip to Oahu, I spent two wonderful days at Halekulani. I’m pleased to share my experiences with you with the following three features:
Halekulani Guide Review
Read my full review of Halekulani.
Photo Gallery
View my gallery of 48 photos of Halekulani.
Profile of Halekulani
If you’re just interested in the facts, check out my Profile of Halekulani.
Halekulani, on the Beach at Waikiki, Hawaii originally appeared on About.com Hawaii / South Pacific Travel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 11:43:36.
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There are a million reasons to book a flight to Thailand – the epic history, the unique food, customs and culture, and of course, the beaches. But now there’s an added perk for travelers who want to stay connected -…
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Miami is a fusion of cosmopolitan luxuries and artistic splendor. Now, when you book a flight to Miami through American Airlines Vacations, you get round-trip flights and three nights in a trendy South Beach hotel, starting at $317 per person….
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Things tend to heat up in every way possible when you’re visiting places near the equator. Expedia and LAN Airlines are offering cheap flights to Latin America, where you’ll experience a collection of historical landmarks, stunning architecture and compelling beaches….
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Is this another sign that the global economic crisis is over? Hermès recently opened two more shops in two different parts of the world, so apparently luxury is once again on people’s wish lists. One of those new shops is in Paris (the first one on the Left Bank), on Rue de Grenelle 16. Because this is a temporary shop, it’s not that large, but it’s quite attractive. A cardboard art installation stands at its center, further tempting curious shoppers before the grand opening of a much more spacious store on Rue de Sévres. Apparently that future shop will be so grand that it just may overshadow the flagship on Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré.
The second recent opening was cross the Atlantic, in São Paulo. It’s Brazil’s first Hermès, and it naturally had to be located in the country’s most sophisticated city. It is found inside the luxury Cidade Jardim shopping mall, and although São Paulo is not a beach city, the highlights for the Brazilian market are the brand’s beachwear and signature beach towels.
-See the complete São Paulo city guide.
-See the complete Paris city guide.
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